Hockey player Dhyan Chand deserves Bharat Ratna: Nana Patekar

Actor Nana Patekar feels that while he is happy that Sachin Tendulkar has been awarded with the Bharat Ratna, he said that hockey player, Dhyan Chand would have been a better choice.

“Whether awarding the Bharat Ratna to Sachin is right or wrong is up to the government to decide.

He definitely is a wonderful player and has given us a lot of happiness but there are people who gave us freedom but still didn’t get the award. When you take money for the work you do, you do it for yourself. That is what actors and sportspersons do. So why would one (government) give us such recognition? However, if the government still wants to confer it on a sportsperson, it should be given to Dhyan Chand,” said Patekar, on the occasion of his 64th birthday.

According to the actor, these awards must be conferred upon individuals who have devoted their lives in bringing a difference in society. “Babasaheb Ambedkar and Maharshi Karve are Bharat Ratna awardees. These people have given their lives to their work and not taken anything in return. Someone like Baba Amte, who also devoted his life to good work, was not awarded the Bharat Ratna but they are the real Bharat Ratna for us.

Patekar also expressed surprise on the decision to confer him with the Padma Shri Award earlier this year. “We have been told that if you commit a crime, you will be punished with imprisonment or death sentence. Likewise, when a person is conferred with an award, he must be told what good he has done. I was shocked to know that I will be conferred with a Padma Shri. I used to see the list of awardees every year and then wonder why a few people have been given the award.